Improvement in curing- cheese



ARTEMASKHOLDREDGE, 0F WEST BURLINGTON, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent N 98,262,

dated December 2S, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN CURING- CHEESE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making' part of the same.

To all whom 'it may conce-rn Be it known that I, AnTEMAs HOLDREDGE, of West Burlington, in the county of Otsego, and Stn-te of New York, have invented a newvand improved lMode of Curing Cheese, and preserving the same when cutting; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactf description thereof, which lwill enable others skilledA in the nrt to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, thrilling part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in making cheese, and consists in a series ot' steps, or distinct operatious,rhy which a very superior article is produced, and its keeping-qualities greatly augmented.

, Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation ofa cheesehoop or mould, showing .my improvement in pressing it.

Figure 2 represents a perspective view of a cheese, made according to my improvement, and shaped as I propose to make them.

Figure 3 represents a perspective view of a cheese, cut, and partly used.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The cheese, as now made, is pressed into Hat, round blocks oren-kes, und placed, after pressing, upon shelves, topermit the whey, which fails of being expressed by the pressing, to escape by evaporation.

The material part of this whey, left after pressing, is at or about the center of the n1nss,lu1t.tends, when the cheese is at rest, to percolnte toward the bottom. It is necessary to turn these cakes frequently, from side to side, to expose the surfnce equally to the atmosphere, and for otherreasons.V Owing to the form of the cakes, they can only be turned from 4side to side. 'lis counter-acts the movement ot' the whey, and

lnuch of it is kept in the cheese, which would other- 'wise escape.

The round form of these cakes is objectionable, in packing for shipment, storage, and for cutting up by the retailer or consumer, as is well known.

When the curd is ready for pressing, it is placed in a hoop or mould, A, of rectangulnribrm and with one side, B, arranged to swing open on hinges, furthe removal of the cakes, after. they'are pressed.

I then press the said curd, in any suitable way, into f deep, in the said mould, with thin boards, or other plates, between, and again subject them to the action ot' the press, by which the whey is still further pressed out, especially at the freshly-cut sides of the cakes.

After pressing a snicient length of' time, I turn the cakes aquarter of a revolution, and subject the other sides to the press, in the same manner.

This I continue as long as needed, after which I remove the cakes, and place them on the shelves, to allow the remaining wheyl to escape by evaporation; and this I find to be greatly facilitated by the form ot these cakes, iu the respect, that as the whey percolates toward the bottoni-of the cake, and that in turning, as is required, from time to time, the cakes are only turned a quarter of a revolution, the.whey, instead ot' being turned directly back in its course, is turned at right angles thereto, and is, consequently, always tending nearer to the exteriors.

In this way, together with my'improved mode of pressing, the whey is so far dissipated that decomposition. is muc-h less liable to take place, and I am, therefore, enabled to preserve my cheese, wit-hout the greasing-proccss commonly employed.

Having thus describediny invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The.above-described process of curing cheese, by

cutting the tlat cakes into blocks, of rectangular form, covering the said blocks with some fabric, and placingv them, two deep, in a mould, with tint plates between them, then suhjectingthenr to pressure, as set forth, the said blocks heilig afterward turned ou shelves, in

the manner described.

The above specilieat-iou of my invention signed by me, this 27th day of May, 1869.

A. HOLDREDGE.

Witnesses: 4

FILME BLoeKLnY, ALEX. F. Runners. 

